The drama that began several weeks ago with the nullification of the new Common Council’s vote for Council President and a key commission assignment ended Tuesday evening when Alderman Ken Zganjar was elected Council President.

After two votes that failed to reached the needed majority of five, a compromise suggested by Mayor Dan Abendroth and an agreement by Aldermen Zganjar, Andrew Nerbun and Pamela Adams broke the deadlock.

Comments by Zganjar and others about committee assignments prior to the vote emphasized the weight given to the Planning Commission appointment.

After two votes at 4-3 for Zganjar, Mayor Abendroth proposed that Aldermen Nerbun and Adams share the appointment.  (Zganjar had previously selected Nerbun as Planning Commission representative and Adams as Alternate.) Further discussion about details ensued, but in the end both agreed and Zganjar, who had said earlier in the discussion that he would not change any assignments if elected this time around, also agreed to the joint assignment if it would break the tie.   He was elected 5-2 on the third ballot.  The assignment to the Planning Commission was approved as agreed to, and other assignments were left unchanged.

Appointments made by the Mayor to the various boards and commissions were approved and can be viewed here on pages 3 and 4 of the agenda.

The election for the vacant District 1 seat is expected to occur at the June 11 meeting.

Mequon City Attorney John DeStefanis nullifed the April 16 election of Ken Zganjar as Council President as well as the nomination of Alderman Andrew Nerbun as the Common Council’s representative to the Planning Commission.

In a lengthy memo April 25, DeStefanis explained the distinction between a simple majority, which was achieved in the original election, and the statutory requirements for election of the Council President.   Mequon Ordinance 2-64 in part states that “a majority of all members of the council,” which would include the mayor, must be achieved for the election of the Council President.  Zganjar was elected by a 4-2 majority (Alderman Dale Mayr was absent).  The entire council (which per statute includes the mayor) now stands at eight with the District 1 vacancy; therefore, a majority is five votes.

DeStefanis also referenced a part of the municipal code that specifically addresses nomination of a Council representative to the Planning Commission.  That nomination must be made by the Council President; as Zganjar was not elected, his nomination of Nerbun is also null and void.  All the other nominations can stand, however, as they can be made by any alderman, and were approved by a 5-1 margin.

The Common Council is next scheduled to meet on May 14 when it is expected to re-vote on the Common Council President and Planning Commission positions.

Since being elected April 2 to the positions of Mayor of Mequon and District 1 Alderman, Dan Abenbroth as expected gave up the District 1 seat.  The City of Mequon has released details for those who are interested in applying for the position.  (see below).  The position will only be a one year appointment:  the successful candidate will have to run in April 2014 to complete the balance of the term, which will run through 2016.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or over, qualified electors of the city, and residents of Aldermanic District One. Interested residents should submit a current resume and letter of interest in serving as Alderperson District One that is no longer than two pages, double-spaced.

Letters and resumes must be submitted by 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2013 to: Lee Szymborski, City Administrator/City Clerk, City of Mequon, 11333 N. Cedarburg Road, Mequon, WI 53092.

Personal interviews will be scheduled at Mequon City Hall at a date to be determined, sometime in the period between May 28-June 7, 2013. Applicants will be notified of this date as well as the anticipated appointment date. Applicants are further advised that all interviews will be conducted pursuant to the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law.